A minister told parliament the ship was outside the island nation’s territorial waters, but in its exclusive economic zone.
A minister told Parliament on Thursday that Iran was trying to rescue the crew of an Iranian vessel near the island’s territorial waters.
The development comes a day after a US submarine torpedoed an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean about 40 nautical miles off the city of Galle, claiming 87 lives.
“Ship not in Sri Lankan waters” Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament. “It is in the exclusive economic zone. The government and the Ministry of Defense are aware of the ship. The government is involved in providing maximum intervention in the lives of those on board.”
On Wednesday, the IRIS Dena, which was returning to Iran after participating in the International Fleet Review and multilateral naval exercises in southeast India, was sunk by a US submarine.
Another Iranian vessel is currently reported to be in international waters near Sri Lanka’s maritime border and the government is working to provide maximum assistance to rescue those on board, Sri Lankan minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament (File Photo) pic.twitter.com/xsE1yYjuDg
– Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) March 5, 2026
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was wrong on Wednesday “First sinking of enemy ship by torpedo since World War II.” At least four naval ships have been sunk by torpedoes since World War II. In 1982, during the Falklands War, Britain’s Royal Navy sank an Argentine cruiser.
Although the US submarine made no attempt to rescue the Iranian sailors, the Sri Lankan Navy managed to save 32 members of Dena’s crew.
Iranian naval personnel rescued by the Sri Lankan Navy are being treated at a hospital in Galle. One person is in the critical care unit, according to local media reports.
“We are doing our best as a government in this regard.” Jayatissa added. “We are acting on the basis of international laws, peace and security, which is our responsibility as a government.”
The island nation has warm relations with both Iran and Israel, which witnessed panic buying of petrol and diesel after the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
Its tourism industry, a major source of revenue, has been hit by the cancellation of flights from the Middle East. The sinking of an Iranian ship is likely to affect this region as well.
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